Too many times when practicing, tennis players are too concerned with winning the “game,” “practice set,” or “drill” the coach has assigned. They are too focused on the result of the game and not developing a shot or skill. Becoming a better tennis player requires you to have multiple layers to your game. That way if game plan 1 is not working you have a second or third game plan to fall back on.
The only way that you can acquire these other game plans is to learn a new shot. When learning and practicing a new shot you should try to do the most repetitions of that specific skill you are trying to learn. Instead, most players focus on beating the other person or team on the opposite side of the net. Winning the drill is only a short-term win. Learning a new skill is the long-term win.
I remember about two months ago I was practicing with a friend of mine. I have been struggling with my volley for a while now and had committed to switching to a new “modified” volley grip. About 45 minutes in, he pulled me to the net and said to me, “You’re off today.” My only response was, “I’m working on something.”
The next day I spent another 1½ hours practicing my volleys. The following day I returned to hit with my friend and I missed fewer than five volleys in 1½ hours.
When my friend said, “You’re off today,” I had a choice. I could have either gone back to my old volleys and beat him (short-term win) or stayed the path and developed the new modified volley grip (long-term win). In the long run the new volley grip has helped me be more comfortable at the net and my volley has improved tremendously.
Like me, choose to win the skill, not the drill.